Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-29
A PREssESc NEED.

~ was satd oy captain Glover In ex-
teEuatiou Of bis conduct in not going
10 toe assistance Of the St. Stephen
when be heard that she was in distress
that bis cruising orders did not extend
outside Of Cape Flsstsry. Although
this excuse as applied TO the case re-
ferFsd 10 is an impotent one, and IN
worthy Of sn officer, who should knew
that the saving Of human life is q plain
duty Of humanity that lie superior 10
any particular Law or order, il is still
deserving Of notice as indicating a con-
dition of affairs that should be at osce
Eemedisd. The shipping interests of
country are second to none in import
ance, and TO say nothing of the obliRs-
ton that the government is under to
shipOvnsrs to do everything possible to
render assistance to shits in distress,
there is q higher and more imperative
duty that II ewes to the men who
are isct to the perils Of the sea.
The duty is very plainly recognized
and as rule 1t is well adhered TO by
our government. Upon the Atlantic
coast the greatest precautions are taken
TO prevent shipwrecks and eonseqGert
loss 81 life. Lighthouses, buoys Of all
kinds, life saving stations and revenue
cutters line the shore from EastpoEt to
Key West. We are informed that there
are in those seasons Of the year when
the weather is liable to be bad revenue
cutters stationed at Portland. Maine.
Newport, Rhode Island. and at Hamp-
ton Roads, whose commanders have
general orders to &c wherever they deem
IL necessary 90 render assistance to ves-
sells in distress, and who are expected o
cruise within certain limits and see that
no vessel in want Of assistance fails to
receive It, This lie as It should be. The
question II expense 90 the government
is one that is net and should not be con-
sldered.
Upon the Pacific Coast, however, as is
perhaps natural In view Of the eompar-
atively short time in which the ship
ping has resumed important proper
tions, the precautions taken by the
Governments are much m re inadequate.
Bot as any pressing necessity Is pointed
out the Government should as speedily
as possible endesvor to meet IL.
The shipping Of Puget Sound IL now
assuming such Dimensions as entitle 1t
to consideration. 10 il on interest,
moreover, that will from now on in
crease With great rapidity Sc the resoar
ces Of the surrounding eoansry are de-
vtloped. While the Navigation OF the
Sound proper ia essentially safe. some
portions Of the Coast outside Of the
Straits are at certain seasons Of The
year ept 60 be dangerous. THIS is par
tieularly true Of the coast OF Vancouver
Island. The Black Stream sweeps
down frsm Alaska at some distance
FROM the shore and causes an eddy be-
tween the stream and shore that makes
= strong surface earrent setting dirscsly
shorsgatd when the wind is from the
southwest. During the past winter
there have been sn unusually large
namber OF wrecks aud correspond
ingly large less Of life. With
the exception Of The revenue cutter,
which is under the command Of an
otieeF who, TO iudge from bic oSB state
men,s, IL entirely wanting in a due sense
OF The dates and responsibilities Of his
position. and whose singular ideas make
she cutter practically % no use, there IL
no governmsnt vessel TO reader any as
isiapcS 10 SHIPS thai may be 10 distress
alsrG this coast What 10 needed IL
large eater OF about four hundred
tons, With deep drAuaht aud built for
heavy weather, the duty Of Which shall
be 70 eruise AlorR the coast outside Of
the Straits aud lock cot for vessels that
may be to need Of assistance. II Ereh
a eater, commanded by a worthy ard
comgsteni sthssF, we're stAiiossd q
Ssah Bay !, would undoabtsdly render /
valuable sssissanos In saving life and |
property. TIE matter Is one thu shoul1 4
certainly be hronghi TO The attention Of |
the tTopss ofh 'iais at Washington, and /
u they are made 10 understand The siiu /
tion ~ the ship ovusrs q The coast, /
there Is no dsubt bat that thsy vii /
grant tie necessary rtlisf.